Well bailer



March 22,1927.

G. W. CLARKE WELL BAILER Filed May '7, 1925 I Ir 0 rllllflllllflll rIlfllllt/a l/IIILIIIIIIIIII/ lltl/ gwvantot iar/Z'e,

fi'eorge 77.

Guam

l atented Mar. 22', 192.7.

U INITETD "STATES WELL BAILER.

Application .filed May '7,

This invention relates to bailers adapted particularly for use the drilling of oil or other similar wells, iha-ving tor its primary object to provide means whereby the hai ler may be readily converted into a filler inthe event t becomes necessary to deposit water at the base of the well.

A further :ohject of the invention is to provide :a combined zbailer and filler which has its mechanism so constructed and arranged .as to he automatic in its filling operations when the bailer has arrived at the :base of the well.

A still further object is to provide a device :of the character stated which is of extremely simple constmction, which involves the use lot but few simple and readily assembled parts, which has its parts so constructed and arranged as to minimize the opportunity for wear, breakage or derange- :ment, which may be operated easily and without the employment of special skill or tools, and which will prove highly efiective in practice.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear :as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, :combination and arrangement of parts, :all :as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out @the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is .a longitudinal sectional view of a combined llDZLllBl and tfiller constructed in accordance with the invention, the parts being in the position they will assume in baili ng aoperatrons,

ig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the device :as shown in Fig. 1, the view being taken at right angles to the plane of Fig. 1.

Pi .3, is ;a view :similar to Fig. 1, and showing the parts in the positions they Wlll assume when the device is employed in Iillin operations, and

Tig. 4 is .a sectional view taken transversely of Fig. 3 on the line H thereof.

As is generally :known to those familiar with well boring operations, it frequently be comes necessary to bail mud, water, etc, from the bottom of the shaft. it also is re- :rprired at times to introducewater at the base r1925. seriaino. 28,665.

of the shaft to facilitate the drilling opera tion. Obvious objections present themselves in pouring water into the shaft from the stop, and it becomes essential that such water be deposited at the base of (the shaft and not in contact with the walls thereof. It

vention to provide a device of simple charactor .and operation for performing the functions of bailer and filler.

In carrying out the invention, a cylinder 5 is employed, of proper length and di ameter, this cylinder be'ng straight throughout its length and open at both ends. The lower .end of the cylinder may have threaded therein so as to be detachable, a valve seat .6, with which operates the head 7 of a valve, having a stem 8 depending therefrom and extending beyond the lower end of the cylinder. This .stem comprises the dart, and has detachably .conneoted thereto the dart head represented at 9.. This head 9 has an upward projection 10 which is socketed and internally threaded to receive the external threads i011 the lower end of stem 8. A cotter pin or key 11 may be passed through suitable openings in the stems 108 to prevent the same becoming accidentally detached. The construction is such that when the cylinder is maintained in the positions shown in the drawing, the valve head 7 will be seated, and when the dart reaches the bottom of the well, further downward movement of the cylinder will cause the valve to open to permit of mud, water, etc., flowing into the cylinder from the lower end thereof. When the cylinder is raised the valve immediately closes and the bailer may be removed from the well and the contents thereof emptied in the usual well-known manner.

Associated with the cylinder, preferably within the same and near its upper end, is a carrier or traveler comprising a yoke or link represented at 12. This link may be constructed of strip metal and has limited movement longitudinally of the cylinder. The said link is secured to the cylinder by means of a bail 13 carried by the latter and extending through the link near the upper end thereof. A bar M connecting the side arms of the link below the upper is the primary purpose of the present ini upper end of the yoke 12. In bailing operaend thereof constitutes a stop for the travel of the link in one direction, this stop confining the bail 13 between itself and the upper closed end of the link. To facilitate assemblage of the device, the upper end of the bail may be removed; bolts and nuts represented generally at 15 effecting the connection.

The valve 7 has attached thereto the lower end of a rod 16. This rod is straight and extends loosely through the lower closed end of the link or yoke 12. The upper extremity of the rod 16 has a loop 17 formed there- I in for cooperation with a latch indicated at 18. 1

The latch 18 is pivoted as at 19 to one of the parallel arms of the yoke or link 12, and is adapted to swing across the link in the path to be traversed by the loop 17. Under normal conditions, that is, when the device is to be used simply in bailing operations, the latch 19 will be maintained in closed position, such as represented in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. To effect this locking of the latch, a latch pin 20 is passed through suitable openings 21 in the link 12 directly over and in engagement with the latch 18. This pin may be headed at 22 at one end while a cotter key 28 may he passed through the other end to maintain the same in proper locked position.

The bailer is supported from a wire, cable or line 24, the latter being attached to the tions, the latch will be looked as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The bailer will be lowered into the well, and when the dart reaches the bottom thereof'the valve 7 will be operated to permit mud, water, etc., flowing into the tube or cylinder 5. Sufficient play is allowed the upper end of the rod 16 to ermit of proper operation of the valve. l hen the cylinder has been filled, upward movement applied to the line 2-1 will cause the bailer to be removed from the well carrying its contents the valve 7 being seated.

In instances where it is required to deposit water at the base of'the well, the cylinder will be held upright and water poured into the same. The latch pin 20 is then removed so that the latch 18 will be free to operate. The filled cylinder is then lowered into the well, and when the dart strikes the bottom and lifts the valve, the contents of the cylinder will flow out through the bot tom thereof. As the downward movement of the cylinder continues, the valve being stationary, the loop 17 will be engaged by the latch 18, whereupon the latter will be raised (see Fig. As the downward movement of the cylinder and yoke continues, the latch 18 will be released by the upper part of yoke 17, whereupon the same will gravitate to horizontal position. After the water has passed from the cylinder, up-

1,c21,eav

ward pull applied to line 24 will cause the yoke 12 first to be raised, and after the bail 13 has been engaged by the stop member 14, the cylinder itself will move upwardly. The loop 17, however, has extending therethrough the latch 18, and the upper bight of the loop will be engaged and held by the said latch. This will maintain the valve in raised position throughout upward movement of the device, so that all liquid Within the cylinder will flow outwardly from the lower end of the same.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a combined bailer and filler which will effectively perform both functions. The operation of the device in bailing operations is precisely the same as those well known in the art, and the conversion of the device from bailer to filler is simple and may be quickly accomplished. The action of the device as a filler upon reach ing the base of the well is wholly automatic, and yet the parts are of such construction and assemblage as to preclude possibility of the valve failing to operate properly.

While the foregoing is a description of the invention in its preferred embodiment, it is obvious that variations in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I reserve to myself the right. to make such variations or changes as may be deemed practical or desirable Without departing from the invention as defined by the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim i 1. In a device of the class described, a cylinder having an opening in. one end, a valve for said opening, a rod connected to said valve and extending upwardly therefrom, a loop on said rod, a latch in the path of travel of said loop and adapted to be operated by the latter, and means for holding said latch against operation.

2. In a device of the class described, a cylinder having an opening in one end, a valve for said opening, a carrier for said cylinder, a latch on said carrier extending laterally thereof, a rod connected to said valve and extending into said carrier and a loop on said rod adapted to engage and lift said latch and to be held by said latch.

3. In a device of the class described, a cylinder having an opening in one end, a valve for said opening, a carrier in the upper end of said cylinder having limited longitudinal movement therein, a latch projecting laterally of said carrier, a rod connected to said valve and extending into said carrier, a loop on said rod adapted to engage and to be engaged by said latch, and means for holding said latch against movement.

4. In a device of the class described, a cylinder open at both ends, a valve in the lower end of said cylinder adapted to open inwardly thereof, a dart projecting downwardly from said valve, a yoke member comprising a carrier mounted for limited longitudinal movement in said cylinder above said valve, a latch in said yoke extending transversely thereof, a rod on said valve extending into said yoke, a loop on said rod adapted to transverse the path of said latch, a pin for holding the latch against operation, and a supporting element 10 for said carrier.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

GEORGE WOODING CLARKE. 

